A Driver Power survey by 'Auto Express' covers virtually every car on the road,
with 46,000 owners taking part.

Heroes
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Honda S2000
Proof that you can have it all. The fun-to-drive roadster came top for reliability, braking and build quality. Yet it never seems to get the high-profile promotion it deserves from its makers.

Skoda Octavia
The new version of the Octavia comes in a stonking second, well ahead of its VW, Audi and Seat cousins (they're all part of the same group). Low running costs and fine value for money. An Audi on the cheap. No one's joking about Skoda now.

Honda Jazz
Third overall and best for practicality and ease of driving, with traditional Honda virtues of a light gearchange and steering coming to the fore.

Honda Accord

Fourth place overall, with good rather than outstanding scores across the board. Getting more popular as a company car, and you can even get one that steers itself. Awesome.

Skoda Fabia

Fifth, with the only weakish spot its brakes. The Czech-built model comes 71 places ahead of the pricier VW Polo, even though that car shares its platform. Why pay more?

Villains
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Peugeot 206

Still perky looking and will run alongside the newer 207 for a few years. Strangely, came bottom for ease of driving. Must do better.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Like the Punto, this has now been superseded by a new version. A poor showing for a premium-badged car, and it came last for ride quality and handling. Plenty of sales, but it may not have helped Mercedes' image.

Rover 25

No longer made, of course, and maybe this is why. Despite Rover's attempts to cosset its buyers this car came bottom for comfort and third from last overall. Running costs not too bad.

Vauxhall Corsa

Very low running costs and not much else to commend in this popular little car. According to the survey it's badly made and awful to drive. A new model arrives in the summer, and not before time, it would appear.

Fiat Punto (old)

Bottom of the pile. Poor ride quality, performance, braking, build and reliability did for it, although it has reasonable running costs. Fiat must be praying that its smart new Grande Punto will restore its fragile reputation.

Funny, I have been thinking about buying a S2000. Such a great driving little car! Instead I bought a '94 E320 with 21k miles on it (my aunts), and a '85 Eldorado Biarritz with 39k miles on it with every stinkin' option ever offered that year (rare). Not really the same is it? Oh well. At least there will be no depreciation.

PS The British are typically better judges of autos than most US auto critics.

Have spent some time in an S2000. Fun, nice handling little car. Although not something I would buy. The whole having to 'drive it like you stole it' to get any acceleration out of it gets old. HP figures are good but needs some torque. Can't believe the older ones came with plastic rear windows. Also not a huge fan of the interior. But you will have a reliable car.

Worst British cars had to be those nasty little Triumph Spitfires you unloaded on us back in the 70's and 80s. God those were bad cars. The best was the Austin Healy 3000. You were insane to quit making them.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

When my kids were at prep school,one of the mums had a milkfloat as her run-about-town.It looked so strange amongst the Porsches,Benzs and Chelsea tractors.I think she was a woman ahead of her time,but her kids hid their faces as they climbed on board.